MDCAN commences one week strike over discrimination in UNIZIK’s advertorial
Ani Bassey
The clinical lecturers in universities in the South-East/South-South zones of Nigeria have commenced a one week strike.
This follows the discriminatory exclusion of clinical lecturers from the eligibility criteria for the position of Vice- Chancellor at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, as contained in the recently advertised vacancy.
MDCAN observed that the selection criteria for the Vice-Chancellorship position as advertised which says Candidates must possess a PhD, automatically excludes clinical lecturers employed as Fellows of the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria and the West African College of Physicians/Surgeons.
Other discriminatory actions which the union identifies include the criteria that Candidates must be supervising PhD students, which again unfairly disqualifies clinical lecturers whose primary academic responsibility involves the supervision of medical residents and clinical.
In addition, candidates must have attracted research grants of no less than 400 million Naira, a criterion that ignores the realities of clinical research, which may not always attract such large funding but has significant impact on medical education and healthcare”.
MDCAN posits that this exclusion is unacceptable as it sets a dangerous precedent in a statement signed by Dr. Iroro Yarhere, chairman MDCAN South East Caucus and Dr. Stanley Ogbonna.
“The union insists that should this be allowed to stand, it could encourage other universities to adopt similar exclusionary policies, effectively denigrating the Fellowship qualifications with which clinical lecturers were employed at the rank of Lecturer I or higher.
“This development also undermines the professional standing of clinical lecturers who have contributed immensely to the academic, research, and service delivery missions of their respective universities.
“It is alarming that such arbitrary exclusions seek to erode the status of Fellowship qualifications, and dismiss the contributions of clinical lecturers to training. research, and institutional development.
“We are not unaware that academic leadership positions require a breadth of experience and competence, which many clinical lecturers have demonstrably acquired through years of service, research supervision, and clinical scholarship”, the association said.
As a result of this, MDCAN said clinical lecturers in universities across the South-East and South- South regions have resolved to embark on a five-day solidarity and warning strike, effective Monday 21st October, 2024, to register our unequivocal opposition to this unfair exclusion.
MDCAN also contend that if this exclusionary test case at Nnamdi Azikiwe University is not reversed, it threatens to ripple across other universities, further marginalising our professional cadre and diminishing the relevance of our qualifications and contributions.
MDCAN urged the Committees of Vice Chancellors and Pro Chancellors to intervene promptly and ensure that this discriminatory advert is reviewed to accommodate clinical lecturers and uphold the principle of equity in leadership selection within our academic institutions.